Blog Archives

CAN THIS BE CHRISTMAS?

11/30/2012

In my last post, I shared a little Christmas cheer. Today, I want to share a thought-provoking poem I have in my files. It was written by M.R. DeHaan, who was the Founder of Radio Bible Class; and it is titled…

CAN THIS BE CHRISTMAS?

What's all this hectic rush and worry?
Where go these crowds who run and curry?
Why all the lights -- the Christmas trees?
The jolly "fat man", tell me please!

Why, don't you know? This is the day
For parties and for fun and play;
Why this is Christmas!

So this is Christmas, do you say?
But where is Christ this Christmas day?
Has He been lost among the throng?
His voice drowned out by empty song?

No. He's not here -- you'll find Him where
Some humble soul now kneels in prayer,
Who knows the Christ of Christmas.

But see the many aimless thousands
Who gather on this Christmas Day,
Whose hearts have never yet been opened,
Or said to Him, "Come in to stay."

In countless homes the candles burning,
In countless hearts expectant yearning
For gifts and presents, food and fun,
And laughter till the day is done.

But not a tear of grief or sorrow
For Him so poor He had to borrow
A crib, a colt, a boat, a bed
Where He could lay His weary head.

I'm tired of all this empty celebration,
Of feasting, drinking, recreation;
I'll go instead to Calvary.

And there I'll kneel with those who know
The meaning of that manger low,
And find the Christ -- this Christmas.

I leap by faith across the years
To that great day when He appears
The second time, to rule and reign,
To end all sorrow, death, and pain.

In endless bliss, we then shall dwell
With Him who saved our souls from hell,
And worship the Christ -- not Christmas!

SOURCE: http://bible.org/illustration/can-be-christmas

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS CHEER

11/26/2012

According to the dictionary, “cheer” is defined as “lightness of spirits or mood; gaiety or joy”. Therefore, before the holidays begin to get hectic, I thought I would use my post today to help spread a little Christmas cheer in advance. Enjoy…

What two things does most every girl want for Christmas? Her past forgotten and her present remembered!

How did Darth Vader know what Luke Skywalker was getting for Christmas? He felt his presents!

How do sheep greet each other at Christmas? Merry Christmas to Ewe!

What did the rabbit give his girlfriend for Christmas? A 14 carrot ring!

What do reindeers say before telling you a joke? This one will sleigh you!

Did you hear about the guy who played golf on Christmas and accidentally hit a bird? He got a partridge on a par three!

What keeps some people from ever coming down the chimney at Christmas dressed like Santa? Claustrophobia!

How do snowmen travel around at Christmas? By icicle!

How do you make a slow reindeer fast at Christmas? Don't feed it!

If athletes get athlete's foot, what do astronauts get? Missile toe!

And last, but not least, a little Christmas poetry…

If you see a fat man who's jolly and cute,
wearing a beard and a red flannel suit,

and if he is chuckling and laughing away,
while flying around in a miniature sleigh,

with eight tiny reindeer to pull him along,
then let’s face it... your eggnog is waaayyy too strong!!!

Okay, I know they were all corny. But, hey, the chances are that there’s a smile on your face even now! And if not, then look at the bright side… You already know just what to buy me for Christmas: a brand new joke book!

SOURCE: Adapted from “Bill Demar’s Joke Page” at http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com/bill_demar_jokes.htm.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

11/22/2012

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me 'to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.'

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord.

To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789."

George Washington, President, United States of America

SOURCE: George Washington Papers. Library of Congress. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/GW/gw004.html.

I AM BLESSED!

11/21/2012

So, in my last post, I talked about going back to the Doctor’s office on Monday morning for a follow up visit for my recent illness. Now, as Paul Harvey used to say, for the rest of the story…

My day had begun earlier. I had gotten up, gotten ready, and gotten gone - headed off for an early appointment. However, it turned out that the individual with whom I was supposed to meet could not make it. Now, let me say right here that it was not this person’s fault. That this individual was “providentially hindered” will be made plain below.

Nonetheless, those of you who know me know that I am a planner who is accustomed to operating on a schedule. Therefore, when my first appointment did not unfold as I had planned, I feared that my whole day, and perhaps my whole week, was off to an inauspicious beginning.

Finding myself with the unexpected gift of time, I called the Doctor to see if I could possibly get in for a follow up visit, as I was still coughing more than I thought I should be. He graciously worked me in. Unfortunately, he told me that I would be coughing for a few more days yet, as the sickness would have to run its course. When I came out of the Doctor’s office, I discovered to my further dismay that my vehicle battery was as dead as the proverbial doornail.

Frustrated, I called my local mechanic. He sent a truck to jump my vehicle off; and I then followed him back to the shop. Suffice it to say that, thirty minutes and a little better than a hundred bucks later, I was back on the road to the office. Not only was I still coughing; but now and now my wallet was smarting as well.

Upon arriving at the office, a fairly typical day unfolded. Most Pastors “put out fires”, as it were, on Monday morning, which is not always fun. Later on, as I was preparing to head to a luncheon, came the “coup de grace”. My wife texted me to say that she had somehow lost her car keys. She and her mother had been out shopping for the things they needed for our Thanksgiving meal, and had been in her mother’s car. However, when they returned to her mom’s house, my wife discovered that her own car keys were missing.

As you are probably aware, late model car keys are specialized, and not inexpensive to replace. More to the point, her house key and others of similar importance were on the keychain. I hung up the phone thinking to myself, “Goodness! How could anyone have a worse day than this? Here it is, not even lunch yet, and I am out one co-pay, one battery, one vehicle key replacement, and one locksmith bill to replace my door locks! Aghh!” I could hardly concentrate the rest of the morning or throughout lunch with all these things on my mind.

Then, later on, upon returning from my luncheon, I had what may be best termed as an epiphany. I was getting settled back into the office when my wife texted me to say that she had found her car keys! She and her mother had backtracked to each store and finally found them at Food City. She had apparently set them out of her purse at the checkout counter as she was paying, and then had inadvertently walked off and left them there. Some Good Samaritan had afterward found them, and had turned them over to customer service.

Greatly relieved, I laid down my phone. Just then, I happened to notice on my desk my notes from the previous Sunday’s services. There on the top, emblazoned in large print and underlined, was the title of David Ring’s message from Sunday morning: “I Am Blessed!” Immediately my pity party came to a screeching halt. It was transformed into a moment of both illumination and conviction.

Now, God did not speak audibly; but He clearly did speak! And it was if this is what He said to me: “Now, what are you complaining about? Do you really think you have problems? All because your precious plans got interrupted or because a set of keys was temporarily misplaced or a vehicle battery went bad?

Were not the keys recovered in short order? And did not the battery last well beyond what might have been expected? After all, is not this the first battery you have ever put in this vehicle? Also, did not the Doctor say that you were well on the way to recovery, and that you would be over your sickness in just a few days? And did not you get done all that was really needed in spite of an unexpected change in your plans? Has this really been such a bad day after all?

By comparison, do you not remember what My servant David Ring said yesterday? Do you not remember that he has now lived twice as long as he was told he would live? That he has had numerous unexpected disappointments and changes of plan in life? That he has lived his whole life with Cerebral Palsy? That he lost both his parents as a young man?

That he lives in unimaginable pain each and every day? That no doctor has ever told him he would be well in just a few days? Or that no person has ever told him that a hundred bucks or so would solve his problems and that he would then be on his merry way all in less than thirty minutes? And you dare to assert that you are having a bad day!?!?”

Needless to say, in old fashioned terms, I felt like I had just been “taken to the woodshed”! Even worse, I felt like I used to when my own father would choose to talk to me rather than simply spank me, which always hurt much worse. But I was better off for it. And I knew it! Like He did with Jonah under his gourd (Jonah 4) and with Elijah under his juniper tree (I Kings 19), God had broken through my stubborn and selfish outer shell and struck pay dirt down inside my heavy heart.

As a result, with Thanksgiving unfolding, I have been reminded to focus much less on my so-called problems, and much more on my blessings! In truth, God has been very good to me! And I know that I am far less appreciative than I should be! For all of this, I stand convicted. I have expressed this to the Lord. And I wanted to express it here today in my blog as well.

Can you relate? Has God reminded you this week just how blessed you really are? If so, have you taken the time to confess any sin of ingratitude? Have you also taken time to sincerely thank Him for all He has done for you? If not, should you? And if you don’t, how can you possibly celebrate a holiday called "Thanksgiving" anyway?

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul reminds us that we are to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”   After what I experienced on Monday, all I can say is, “Amen!”, and then do just that: give thanks in all circumstances!

NOTE: David Rings’ message can be found on our church’s web site at: http://www.firstbaptistlc.org/Welcome/media-stuff/sermon-downloads. Brother David’s own web site, with his life story and other resources, can be found here: http://www.davidring.org/.

WELL EXCUSE ME!

11/19/2012

I went back to the doctor this morning for a follow up visit on my recent bout with pneumonia. He told me I was winning the war, but that I could expect to continue experiencing periodic coughing battles for a few more days.

In the meantime, let me say that I am feeling better. Let me also say that I appreciate all the people who checked on me. It is good to know you have not been forgotten when you are down and out. It is even better to get back into the swing of things after having been out of circulation for a few days.

While laying low and recuperating, I did have some time to surf the web. As I did, I came across the following humorous piece that purports (obviously in jest) to offer some of the more ridiculous excuses shared by people for missing a day of work. Enjoy these...

EXCUSES FOR MISSING A DAY OF WORK

If it is all the same to you I won't be coming in to work. The voices told me to clean all the guns today.

When I got up this morning I took two Ex-Lax pills in addition to my Prozac. I can't get too far from the restroom; but I feel good about it.

I set half the clocks in my house ahead an hour and the other half back an hour Saturday and spent 18 hours in some kind of space-time continuum loop, reliving Sunday (right up until the explosion). I was able to exit the loop only by reversing the polarity of the power source exactly e*log(pi) clocks in the house while simultaneously rapping my dog on the snout with a rolled up copy of the paper. Accordingly, I will be in late, or early.

I can't come in to work today because I'll be stalking my previous boss, who fired me for not showing up for work. OK?!

I have a rare case of 48-hour projectile leprosy, but I know we have that deadline to meet...

I am stuck in the blood pressure machine down at the Grocery King.

Yes, I seem to have contracted some attention-deficit disorder and, hey, how about them Skins, huh? So, I won't be able to, yes, could I help you? No, no, I'll be sticking with Sprint, but thank you for calling.

I just found out that I was switched at birth. Legally, I shouldn't come to work knowing my employee records may now contain false information.

The psychiatrist said it was an excellent session. He even gave me this jaw restraint so I won't bite people when I am startled.

The dog ate my car keys. We're going to hitchhike to the vet.

I prefer to remain an enigma.

I am converting from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar.

I can't come to work today because the EPA has determined that my house is completely surrounded by wetlands and I have to arrange for helicopter transportation.

I am extremely sensitive to the fluctuation in the stock market.

I refuse to travel to my job in the Business District until there is a commuter tax because I insist on paying my fair share.

In Proverbs 17:22, the Bible says that “a merry heart is good medicine”. If this is the case, and I beleive it is, then perhaps this little piece will have helped you feel better today, as it did me.

(Just remember, though, to take these excuses with a grain of salt. I would not recommend actually trying to use any of them yourself. If you do, the outcome might not be near so humorous, at least not to your boss.)

*SOURCE: http://www.recruitersnetwork.com/jokes/callinsick.htm

FEELING BETTER NOW

11/15/2012

Late last Friday afternoon, I was diagnosed by my doctor with something called “walking pneumonia”. Needless to say, that concerned me more than just a little. So, after heading to the drugstore, I went home and read up on my condition on the internet. I soon discovered that walking pneumonia is also known as "Primary Atypical Pneumonia": "Atypical Pneumonia" is atypical in that it is caused by atypical organisms (other than Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis).

“That’s good,” I thought, “as I certainly wouldn’t want to know any of that stuff was inside me!” Then I read the next sentence. These atypical organisms include special bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Apparently, though, some of this stuff was inside of me! Aghh!! Gross!!! Now greatly alarmed, I continued reading…

No responding on common antibiotics as sulfonamide and beta-lactams like penicillin.
No signs and symptoms of lobar consolidation, meaning that the infection is restricted to small areas, rather than involving a whole lobe. As the disease progresses, however, the look can tend to lobar pneumonia.
Absence of leukocytosis.
Extrapulmonary symptoms, related to the causing organism.
Moderate amount of sputum, or no sputum at all (i.e. non-productive).
Lack of alveolar exudate.

Confused? So was I! In fact, after a lengthy spiel, the only thing I did understand was the last couple of sentences: Despite general symptoms and problems with the upper respiratory tract (such as high fever, headache, a dry irritating cough followed later by a productive cough with radiographs showing consolidation), there are in general few physical signs. The patient looks better than the symptoms suggest.* (Emphasis mine.) Trust me; I can concur with this last assertion!

Well, suffice it to say that I managed to get through Sunday morning’s message; but then I went straight home and crawled in bed, where I stayed for the next few days. Fortunately, I’m feeling much better now. I guess everyone is destined to get sick every now and then. For me, that usually only happens once or twice a year. Hopefully, therefore, I have now gotten my annual bout with sickness out of the way for the winter.

When I finally got back to the office, however, I discovered to my chagrin that some new policies had been put in place. (Not really, but I thought I would post this humorous little piece today in light of the fact that, after coughing my head off for a week, it is just plain good to be able to laugh without triggering another coughng spell.) Enjoy…

NEW SICK LEAVE POLICY

SICKNESS AND RELATED LEAVE: We will no longer accept a Doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the Doctor, you are able to come to work.

SURGERY: Operations are now banned. As long as you are an employee here, you need all your organs. You should not consider removing anything. We hired you intact. To have something removed constitutes a breach of employment.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives, or coworkers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend to the arrangements. In rare cases, where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon or evening. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early, provided your share of the work is done.

YOUR OWN DEATH: This will be accepted as an excuse. However, we require at least two weeks’ notice as it is your duty to train your own replacement.

RESTROOM USE: Entirely too much time is being spent in the restroom. In the future, we will follow the practice of going in alphabetical order. For instance, all employees whose names begin with ''A'' will go from 8:00am to 8:10am, employees whose names begin with ''B'' will go from 8:10am to 8:20am and so on. If you are unable to go at your allotted time, it will be necessary to wait until the next day when your turn comes again. In extreme emergencies employees, may swap their time with a coworker. However, both employees' supervisors must approve this exchange in writing. In addition, there is now a strict 3-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, and the stall door will open.

PAYCHECK GUIDE: The following helpful guide has been prepared to help our employees better understand their paychecks:

Item Amounts: Gross pay $1,222.02 Income tax $244.40 Outgo tax $45.21 State tax $11.61 Interstate tax $61.10 County tax $6.11 City tax $12.22 Rural tax $4.44 Back tax $1.11 Front tax $1.16 Side tax $1.61 Up tax $1.08 Down tax $1.14 Tic-Tacs $1.98 Thumb tacks $3.93 Carpet tacks $0.98 Stadium tax $0.69 Flat tax $8.32 Surtax $2.23 Ma'am tax $1.23 Corporate tax $2.60 Parking fee $5.00 F.I.C.A. $81.88 T.G.I.F. Fund $9.95 Life insurance $5.85 Health insurance $16.23 Dental insurance $4.50 Mental insurance $4.33 Disability $2.50 Ability $0.25 Liability $3.41 Coffee $6.85 Coffee Cups $66.51 Floor rental $16.85 Chair rental $0.32 Desk rental $4.32 Union dues $5.85 Union don'ts $3.77 Cash advance $0.69 Cash retreats $121.35 Overtime $1.26 Undertime $54.83 Eastern time $9.00 Central time $8.00 Mountain time $7.00 Pacific time $6.00 Time out $12.21 Oxygen $10.02 Water $16.54 Heat $51.42 Cool air $26.83 Hot air $20.00 Miscellaneous $113.29 Various $8.01 Sundry $12.09 = Your Net Take Home Pay $0.02

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore, all questions, all comments, all concerns, all complaints, all frustrations, all irritations, all aggravations, all insinuations, all allegations, all accusations, all contemplations, all consternations, and/or all input should be directed elsewhere.

Thank you. Have a nice week.
The Management**

*SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atypical_pneumonia
**SOURCE: http://www.citehr.com/740-new-rules-employment-joke.html

A SALUTE TO OUR VETERANS

11/12/2012

Yesterday, of course, was Veteran’s Day, 2012. In light of this, I thought I would post a rather straightforward little item in honor of all the men and women who have so faithfully served out country down through the years. It is titled simply “It is the Veteran”.

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,

Who has given us the freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,

Who has given us the freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,

Who has given us the freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,

Who has given us the freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,

Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,

Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN…

Who salutes the Flag.

It is the VETERAN…

Who serves under the Flag.

It is the VETERAN…

Who is buried under the Flag.*

Please let me take this opportunity to join with millions of other Americans and say a word of sincere appreciation to each and every person who has ever served in our Armed Forces. All that we hold dear is due to you and your willingness to sacrifice. Thank you!

*NOTE: This piece occurs widely all over the internet. It also comes in several variations. My own source was a printed version found in an old church bulletin. Moreover, the authorship appears to be disputed. It is most often attributed to a certain "Father Dennis Edward O'Brien", who had been a member of the United States Marine Corp. Cf.: http://www.semperficatholic.com/page4.html.

Now, as might be expected, his authorship is disputed. Cf.: http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1116-30.htm. However, the real concern here seems to be over the message being communicated by the piece rather than the validity of its authorship.

SPIRITUAL DOMINOES

11/10/2012

Today's post is in response to those who asked me about the story I used to conclude my message on choosing to make a difference this past Sunday morning. It is a famous story about a certain Edward Kimball who was an ordinary Sunday School teacher back in 1854 in the city of Boston. But he felt compelled to make a difference in the lives of the boys he taught each Sunday, and thereby became a part of something truly extraordinary.

The story exists today in numerous versions on the internet. I first encountered it years ago in a book about the life of D. L. Moody by J. Wilburn Chapman. My immediate source for my message this past Sunday was a version titled A Nobody Named Kimball by C. Sumner Wemp. It can be found at: http://sumnerwemp.com/witnessing/a_n
obody_named_kimball.htm. I took the title, “Spiritual Dominoes”, from another version with a bit more detail, found at: http://www.raptureready.com/rr-sd.html.

Here is the story:

Edward Kimball was concerned about one of his young Sunday school students who worked at a shoe store in town. One day Kimball visited him at the store, found the student working in the back stocking shelves, and led him to Christ then and there. Dwight L. Moody eventually left the shoe store to become one of the greatest preachers and evangelists of all time.

Moody, whose international speaking took him to the British Isles, preached in a little chapel pastored by a young man with the imposing name of Frederic Brotherton Meyer. In his sermon Moody told an emotionally charged story about a Sunday school teacher who personally went to every student in his class and let each of them to Christ.

That message changed Pastor Meyer’s ministry, inspiring him to become an evangelist like Moody. Over the years Meyer came to America. While speaking in Northfield, MA a young preacher heard Meyer say, “If you are not willing to give up everything for Christ, are you willing to be made willing?” That remark led J. Wilbur Chapman to respond to the call of God on his life.

Chapman went on to become one of the most effective evangelists of his time. A volunteer by the name of Billy Sunday helped set up his crusades and learned how to preach by watching Chapman. Billy Sunday eventually took over Chapman’s ministry becoming one of the most dynamic evangelists of this century. Billy Sunday’s preaching brought thousands to Christ.

Inspired by a 1924 Billy Sunday crusade in Charlotte, NC a group of Christians dedicated themselves to reaching their city for Christ. The group invited the evangelist Mordecai Ham to come and hold a series of evangelistic meetings in 1932. A lanky 16 year old sat in the huge crowd one evening, spellbound by the message the white-haired preacher gave. Each evening the preacher seemed to be shouting and waving his finger at the young man. Night after night the teen came and finally went forward to give his life to Christ.

That teenager was Billy Graham. Billy Graham has communicated the gospel to more people than any other person in history. And it all started with a Sunday school teacher named Kimball. Millions have been affected by his decision to go into a shoe store and share Christ with one person. Millions more will continue to feel his impact.

Can something like this happen today? Of course! God wants to use you to change the world. Make an eternal difference by sharing the gospel with those around you and by supporting others who do God’s work around the world.

Note: The Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College gives additional information on the chain of events which famously led to Billy Graham’s conversion experience. Cf.: http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/faq/13.htm.

However, the same Wilburn Chapman referenced in the story above later wrote a book and gives direct quotations from both Kimball and Moody regarding the authenticity of Kimball’s involvement in Moody’s conversion experience. Cf.: http://www.biblebelievers.com/moody/05.html.

Lastly, it is important not to confuse the historical Edward D. Kimball of this story, who was a layman in Boston and who led Dwight L. Moody to faith in Jesus Christ, with either the Edward Kimball who was a silent picture era film star or the Edward L. Kimball who is a Mormon and a retired professor at Brigham Young University.

THOUGHTS ON THE ELECTION

11/7/2012

As I am a Pastor, many people have asked my thoughts on the whole matter of yesterday’s elections. As an Evangelical Christian who loves his country, I will be the first to admit that I do not have all the answers about what has happened and why.

Like many people in this country, I am still in somewhat of a state of shock. More to the point, I feel a tremendous sense of grief for my country and her inexorable moral decline, especially in light of the many issues just approved by voters. I fear a catastrophic implosion is now all but inevitable.

As I have been working through this bewildering turn of events, I have found some wisdom from others. If you share my concerns, here are some links which may be helpful for you as you struggle to make sense of our culture.

1. http://www.albertmohler.com/2012/11/07/aftermath-lessons-from-the-012-election/?utm_source=Albert+Mohler
&utm_campaign=ffa2469a8e-Albert_Mohler_Email_August
_6_20128_6_2012&utm_medium=email

2.       http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=39109

3.         http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-should-christians-respond-to-obamas-re-election-84553/

4.        http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=39101

5.       http://www.focusonlinecommunities.com/blogs/Finding
_Home/2012/11/07/my-foolish-reaction-to-president-obamas-re-election?refcd=136901

6.       http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/11/07/365065
4/obama-re-election-sends-us-down.html

7.       http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/so-what-now-7-sets-of-questions-to-ask-after-president-obamas-reelection/

Only one thing is certain. God is still on His throne. Nothing that has happened has caught Him unaware in any way. He has not changed; nor has His Word - not one jot nor tittle! And His Word says that while He is merciful, His Spirit will not always strive with man!

So, I pray fervently, as did Abraham for the wicked cities of the plain in Genesis 18, that God will be longsuffering and patient with America. I pray that that my country, the once righteous nation who was the apple of God's eye and the envy of the world, will now be spared the wrath of Almighty God.

But I know this will not happen unless my fellow citizens come to their senses, inless they repent, and unless they beg the God of the Bible for mercy. I know this because, in the Book of Jonah, He chose to forgive Nineveh, the wicked capital of the Assyrians.  But I also know this because, in Genesis 19, He did not choose to spare wicked Sodom and vile Gomorrah.

What was the difference? One simple thing: the former repented and the latter did not.  May this once great nation pay heed to both of these warnings from God's Word while there is still time - before God writes "Ichabod" on our very door!

And this is the message we must communicate. We must do it now, with a sense of urgency, with a sense of sincerity, and with a sense of compassion. In short, we must plead as would a dying man to dying men.

Choosing to Matter

11/5/2012

The following little verse has been around in one form or another for centuries:

For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe, the horse was lost.
For want of a horse, the rider was lost.
For want of a rider, the message was lost.
For want of a message, the battle was lost.
For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want, of one little nail.

This familiar saying appropriately demonstrates the power of even the smallest of entities to make a big difference. Indeed, history is replete with demonstrations of the fact that small actions can result in large consequences – especially on the battlefield. (See, for instance, the book titled: The Hinge Factor: How Chance and Stupidity Have Changed History by Erik Durschmied [Arcade Publishing, 2001]).

But this principle is true in all endeavors in life. One such example, of course, is politics. I would challenge you to do a simple Google web search on the subject of “the importance of one vote”. You might just be amazed to see how many times one vote has mattered in political outcomes. Here is one version:

In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed.
In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German.
In 1800, President Jefferson beat Aaron Burr by one vote in the House following an electoral tie.
In the 1829 election for the U.S. House of Representatives in Kentucky’s 2nd District, Jackson Democrat Nicholas Coleman defeated National Republican Adam Beatty 2,520 to 2,519.
In 1845, one vote brought Texas and California into the Union.
In 1868, a single vote saved President Andrew Johnson from an impeachment conviction.
In 1875, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic.
In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford Hayes the Presidency of the United States.
In 1911, one vote per precinct passed woman suffrage in California.
In 1920, one vote from an obscure state legislator gave all women the right to vote after 100 years of struggle.
In 1923, one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party.
In 1941, one vote defeated a bill that would have killed the draft law - just months before Pearl Harbor.
In 1948, Lyndon B. Johnson, our 36th president, became a U.S. senator by a one vote margin.
In 1948, if Thomas E. Dewey had gotten ONE vote more per precinct in Ohio and California, the presidential election would have been thrown to the U.S. House of Representatives, where Dewey enjoyed more support than his rival -- incumbent Harry S. Truman? In fact, Dewey was expected to win the general election by a landslide, so most Republicans stayed home. Only 51.5 percent of the electorate voted in 1948, and Truman defeated Dewey.
In the 1960 presidential election, ONE additional vote per precinct in Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey and Texas would have denied John F. Kennedy the presidency and put Richard M. Nixon in office eight years earlier. This means that John F. Kennedy's margin of victory over Richard Nixon in 1960 was less than one vote per precinct.
Several of our states, including California, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington, became states by just ONE vote.
In 1993, More than 50 of Missouri's municipal elections ended in a tie. In each case, just one vote would have made the difference.*

In light of this, I would encourage all Americans to get out and vote. And I would further encourage every voting American to be informed in advance of a trip to the voting booth. As an Evangelical Christian, in particular, I would challenge my fellow citizens to vote their values and not just their pocketbooks.

Here is a link to a non-partisan “Party Platform Comparison Guide” put together by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention: http://erlc.com/documents/pdf/2012-PPCG-LOW.pdf.

Please note that it consists only of direct quotations from the official platforms of the two main political parties, Democrat and Republican, on various issues relating to the current national elections. Such a document should speak plainly for itself in assisting Evangelical Christians as they decide how best to honor God with their political votes.

Politics, however, is not the only place where even one individual matters. The same is also true for our expression of faith in daily life.

In 1 Corinthians 12, and again in 1 Corinthians 14, the Apostle Paul deals with the subject of spiritual gifts. His assertion is that we are all part of the body of Christ, and that we each have an important role to play in that regard. We all matter in the Kingdom. And we must all do our part to help the body of Christ function as it should. In short, we must each help to make a difference in the life and ministry of the church.

I hope everyone who affirms faith in Jesus Christ understands that. I hope they also believe it. And above all, I hope they practice it. I would hate to know the Kingdom of God and the cause of Jesus Christ stumbled because I did not do my part. I trust the same is true for you as well.

*NOTE: As is so often the case, the authenticity of the various lists of examples of the power of one vote to make a difference will be called into question by certain web sites (For example, as might be expected: http://www.snopes.com/history/govern/onevote.asp). Other web sites, however, will give fairly detailed documentation regarding their assertions (An example is: http://www.poetpatriot.com/timeline/tmln-1vote-matters.htm). Still others are not so easy to dismiss, occurring on official University web sites (Example: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/virtualschool/videoconferences/
catalog/view/21). Suffice it to say that the truth may well reside somewhere in the middle. But ultimately, you, like any voter, may have to decide this one for yourself.

<<Previous